The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-16

impossible suggestions of the inflated doctrin-
aire.
the pursuit of power and in providing for his
friends. He was always place-hunter for 9TH
ers, and knew as well as any man how to build
up and maintain personal party by finding po-
sitions and employments for his adherents. /
cannot say that he could have been induced to
support the st. Domingo scheme by offers of
patronage. but do know that men in Grants
Cabinet thought and said so at the time
Sumner was especially anxious that a GER
tain friend of his, named Ashley, should
have high appointment; he was always advert
ing to this when important measures were dis
cussed 'Why don't you do something for Ash
ley2" was his constant cry. Grant had some rea-
son. never knew what for refusing this re-
quest; perhaps it was in part an obstinate un-
willingness to be forced or persuaded into any
thing; he had held out SO long. he would hold out
to the end. For he was often. thought, mala
droit in the distribution and withholding of
patronage. Regarding it as he did, and every
body ibid at that time, as a legitimate means Of
party support, and believing that 1T was clearly
within his province to distribute Office as he
chose-he might have won many important peo-
pie whom he drove away; he was not phable
enough for politician. He thought he would
not truckle to the press and thefore he deied
and fought the great journals and journalists of
the country. But by iudicous use Of legiti-
mate political advantages, and by personal ad-
vances that coming from him, would have con-
ferred distinction, he might have retained as
friends many who became his bitterest enemies.
l thought at first that even Summers friendship
need not have been lost.
In the winter spring of 1870 one of Grants
Cabinet said to him General, you can get st.
Domingo and Summers support if you will give
him something for Ashley" but Grant refused
blunsly and almost sternly. The Cabinet officer
may have been right or wrong but believe now
that concessions could long have retained
Sumner as friend. He wanted too much: to
control absolutely; the more that was yielded the
more he claimed Lincoln had the same trouble
with him as Grant, but was more adroit. He
avoided open ruptures by seeming to concede. by
playing upon Summers vanity, by making him
believe that he suggested measures which the
administration had already determined on
Fish finally became assured that the st. Do
mingo treaty could not pass the Senate; private
count was taken, and ii was ascertained that the
requisite two-thirds could not be obtained in its
favor, though more than majority would vote
for it. When this was certain Fish became anx
ious to settle the question definitely. and begged
Sumner, who, chairman OF the committee on
foreign affairs, could control the situation, to
bring up the treaty and reject it. so as to have
done with the matter; but Simmer was deter
mined to make the government withdraw the
treaty, 8 peculiar humiliation to which Grant
would not submit
One day in the spring of 1870, Fish went to
Summers house It was at night, as he was re-
turning from a dinner; he was ushered into
Summers library, and found him in tears. The
domestic relations Of the Senator, the world
knows, werevery unhappy, and he was depressed
and probably contemplating them. He
was not rich and confessed that the state of his
affairs also troubled him. Fish remembered
their old-tme friendship, and sought to console
him. He said: Reject this treaty, Sumner,
and let the Senate adjourn; then go abroad for
the summer; get away from your cares, and
think of something else" Sumner was at this
time preparing edition of his speeches or
some other work about himself, and Fish urged
him to apply himself to that as distraction
Pnt old hA nn,,11 &C.
abroad, but, Fish in the effusion of the mo-
ment and knowing that Motley was to be re-
called, exclaimed: How would you like to be
minister to Englandl" The moment he heard
He saw that the offer might be misconstrued
and regretted what he had said. But
Sumner simply replied: mo- I cannot
disturb Motley" and Fish eagerly acquiesced;
you could not supplant Motley" Not another
word passed between them this subject; yet
this is what has been called an attempt to bride
| MIR. Sumner into the support of the ST. Domingo
| this very interview Fish had already urged
Sumner to bring up the treaty and reject it: for
the administration had fully made up its mind
| that the measure was lost.
Twice before this Grant had told Fish that he
meant to remove Motley--once when Motiey's
| report of his first interview with Lord Ciaren-
don arrived. next when it was discovered that
| Motley had submitted his account of the inter
| view TO the Forelgu OUco, In LONDON, which
| made it a part of the British erchives--but, on
each occasion, Fish had interposed to save the
| envoy. As have stated in previous paper in
May, when was leaving Washington, the Pres
| ident told me that he had certainly determined
i to remove MR. Motley.
| ION the Both of June, the ST. Domingo treaty
was rejected, and on the lat of July Mr.. Motley
was requested to resign. The determination was
| then executed which lad long before been ar
| rived at; but have no doubt whatever that the
/ q tod tha art;n ~
| the President The ak had been banging, but
| now Grant let il fall It was on the night OF
| July that General Grant desired Mr. Fish tc
request the resignation of Motley; but the Pres
| dent supposed that the Secretary would tele
! graph. and week or two later when he discov
cred that Mr.. Fish had merely written. he re-
quested him to telegraph; and the Secretary oil
| State of course complied
For some months all personal relations be
tween Sumner and Grant had ceased. Sumner
had used language highly disrespectful and iniu
rious to the President, not only attacking hi.
acts, but impeaching his motives, and maxim,
himself personally, as well as politically often.
sive and Grant was not tl.s man to endure THU
| without resenting it He did not measure hi
own language in commenting OH that Of the Sen
ator. Nevertheless, Mr.. Fiak dad continued hi.
! t x ..oico..co ..sn sumner, though it was. o:
course, constrained, for Sumner criticised thu
Secretary with contemptuous sort of condo
scenslon, saying that Fish meant we'll, but wa
used by others. Fish was aware of the language
but it was so important to preserve sort Of con
cord in their official relations that he overlooket
what otherwise he might have considered an
pardonable. He was in the Senate chambe
shortly after the nomination of Motley's sue
cessor was sent in, and went mp, as usual, T.
Summers desk Sumner almost provoked
rupture then, but finally thought better Of il
and things went on for awhile as before in spit
of the Motley imbroglio.
When the Senate reconvened in December tn
new committees were formed, but, though tn
treaty of St Domingo had been rejected in July
principally by Summers efforts no attempt wa
made by the administration to procure tho depe
sition of Sumner from his place as chairman G
the committee on foreign affairs. If the govern
ment had wished to avenge itself in that wa
for Summers opposition to the treaty, now wa
the time, for his imperious behavior had mad